Labour seeks details of UK role in Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen

Last Updated: January 28, 2016By

A child looks at damage from an airstrike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in Sana’a, Yemen [Image: Xinhua/Barcroft].

Pressure is mounting on David Cameron to explain the role of British military personnel in the Saudi-led bombing campaign of Yemen after a UN panel ruled the operation contravened international humanitarian law.

Jeremy Corbyn and Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary, sent a joint letter to the prime minister on Wednesday asking for details about British involvement after a leaked copy of the panel’s report concluded there had been “widespread and systematic” attacks on the civilian population.

The 51-page report, sent to the UN security council last week … documented 119 sorties by the Saudi-led coalition that were linked to violations of international law.

It said that many of the attacks “involved multiple airstrikes on multiple civilian objects”. It added: “Of the 119 sorties, the panel identified 146 targeted objects. The panel also documented three alleged cases of civilians fleeing residential bombings and being chased and shot at by helicopters.”

The UK has been furtive about its role in the bombing campaign, with details trickling out only gradually. Earlier this month, the Saudis revealed that UK and US staff were in the command and control centre where the bombing operations are directed.

Source: Labour seeks details of UK role in Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen | World news | The Guardian

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No Comments

  1. Harry January 28, 2016 at 12:49 am - Reply

    Hi Mike … I’m glad Mr Corbyn is not accepting the Tory glib lies about Yemen. Here:-

    http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/01/21/446733/Yemen-US-Britain-Houthi-Daesh/

  2. Terry Davies January 28, 2016 at 8:26 am - Reply

    its the arms dealers who fund the tories and obtain in return war arenas to sell their wares.
    Common sense dictates that to increase profit margins in the arms industry more wars are needed to use arms already purchased and thereby create a market.
    Thus economic theory is that economies which rely on sales of arms depend on arms sales in war torn regions of the world.
    Conning people globally is done by the politicians rewarded by shares or consultancies (tax) and advice to these companies.
    more tax evasion more global wars are needed to reduce borrowing from IMF. Arms deals fills this gap with all the inherent disadvantages, and deaths in war zones.

  3. Joan Edington January 28, 2016 at 12:45 pm - Reply

    That will be Hilary “Bomb ’em, bomb ’em” Benn then. Has Corbyn finally got him to heel?

  4. amnesiaclinic February 1, 2016 at 8:53 pm - Reply

    Please support World Beyond War and sign their petition as well as Campaign Against the Arms Trade. I think Reprieve are also suing the government for these arms sales which are breaking international law as they are involved in war crimes by bombing hospitals, schools and civilians.

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